Former congressman looks for comeback in one of many hotly contested Metro Detroit primary races

Metro Detroit voters will be looking at a number of hotly contested races in August 5 primary elections.(MLive file)

DETROIT, MI -- Former Congressman Hansen Clarke joined the race for the 14th House District seat on Tuesday, filing 2,000 petition signatures on the last day candidates could seek spots on the ballot in Aug. 5 primary elections.

He'll battle three fellow Democrats, state Rep. Rudy Hobbs, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and military veteran Burgess Foster of Detroit in a district that zigzags awkwardly through parts of Detroit, Oakland County and the Grosse Pointes.

One Republican, Christina Conyers of Detroit, is also running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township), who is running for U.S. Senate.

Former Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit)File Photo

Clarke ran for the seat in 2012, losing to Peters in a race that forced the two incumbents to face each other due to redistricting.

He now joins one of many hotly contested Detroit-area primary races for seats in the U.S. House and the state legislature.

U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) is being challenged by fellow Republican Dave Trott of Commerce, an attorney with strong fundraising capabilities looking to unseat the Tea Party favorite in the 11th District, which includes parts of western Wayne and Oakland Counties.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) is retiring from his 12th District seat, leaving his wife Debbie Dingell is to face fellow Democrat Raymond G. Mullins, an Ypsilanti attorney, on Aug. 5.

Republicans Terry Bowman and Stephen Farkas, both of Dearborn are also looking to replace Dingell, who is the longest-serving member of congress in U.S. history.

John Conyers (D-Detroit), who is the second-longest serving congressman, is being challenged by Detroit Rev. Horace Sheffield. Republican Jeff Gorman of Garden is the only Republican running for the 13th District seat.

Redistricting and term limits and in the Michigan legislature have a number of incumbents running against each other in the August primary, making for several more hotly contested races in Metro Detroit.

In at least two instances, three current state lawmakers are all running for the same seat.

State Reps. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights), David Nathan (D-Detroit) and Thomas Stallworth, III (D-Detroit) are running against each other in the 5th District state Senate primary, along with Shanelle Jackson of Detroit and Frank Tomcsik and Carrie O'Connor of Redford Township.

Jennifer Rynicki of Detroit is the only Republican running for that seat.

State Reps. Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills), Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) and state Sen. Gregory, Vincent (D-Lathrup Village) are running against each other for the 11th District state Senate seat.

Republican Boris Tuman of Oak Park is also running.

State Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) and state Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) are also facing each other, as are state Rep. John Olumba (D-Detroit) and state Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) in a couple more inter-caucus battles.

View a full list of candidates who filed for state house and senate elections here.